Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Thursday's Forecast
Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
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Moderate breeze, locally gusty
A noticeable breeze, feeling cool where exposed on tops. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Patchy rain or drizzle
Rain on and off, or generally drizzly - total amounts small, but may be persistently damp, especially where hills are shrouded in cloud.
Poor visibility
Murky conditions with areas of fog shrouding the hills, making navigation challenging. Map and compass essential.
Chilly
Air temperature typically 0 to 5C on higher summits. Feeling distinctly chilly on tops when stationary or where exposed to wind. Take appropriate layers.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Thursday 5th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Nov 26 at
1:05PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Extensive fog due to low cloud and patches of drizzle, but dry most western mountains where cloud base highest. Little wind N Scotland, but from near the central belt of Scotland southwards, blustery higher slopes, and in places very gusty west of major ridges.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Fog and a little drizzle.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Easterly 20mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small.
How Wet?
Little or no rain
A few patches of drizzle Deeside; isolated if any elsewhere.
Cloud on the hills?
Very extensive; higher summits probably above the cloud
Persistent fog above around 600m, perhaps 800m west of A9but patches at 300m, perhaps widely near and east of Braemar. Areas above 1050-1200m probably above the cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% - but fog many lower slopes
Sunshine and air clarity?
Extensively cloudy or dull but visibility mostly excellent.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C.
Freezing Level
Above the summits, but in places ground frozen on highest tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Friday 6th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Nov 26 at
1:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varied but mainly easterly, 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Little or no rain.
Many areas dry, particularly Monadhliath, But damp weather with pockets of mostly light rain will come and go mostly on southern hills in Cairngorms NP.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive, particularly more eastern hills
Confidence low. Broadly, cloud base typically 700-900m with the top 1100m or above. But particularly in rain, pockets of or extensive cloud lower slopes, particularly near and east of Braemar where base 300-450m.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30% (in places with fog lower slopes)
Sunshine and air clarity?
Overall extensive or particularly east of A9 persistently cloudy or dull. The air generally very clear, though misty in rain
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C
Freezing Level
Above the summits - frost some valleys overnight and perhaps ground frozen higher tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 7th November 2026
Last updated
Wed 4th Nov 26 at
1:05PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Direction varied, 10mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Negligible
How Wet?
Isolated, if any drizzle
Risk fine drizzle most likely near and east of Braemar.
Cloud on the hills?
Extensive fog probable, higher areas above the cloud.
Confidence in detail low: Extensive slowly drifting low cloud will affect much of region between 200-400m and around 700 to 900m - higher areas above cloud.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
40% - fog many lower slopes.
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy but excellent visibility. Probably bright sunshine higher areas.
How Cold? (at 900m)
2C
Freezing Level
Above the summits - but some particularly higher terrain frozen after a frost.
Planning Outlook
High pressure will continue to be the main influence through the next week, particularly W & NW Highlands where extensively dry and wind often light. However, generally fog and low cloud may well never clear most mountains under the light wind. There will also be patches of drizzly rain, although total rainfall small.